St. Apollonia — For centuries many questions were unanswered regarding the pathophysiology of disease so that mysticism and superstition helped explain the unexplainable. People looked to religion as St. Apollonia became the patron saint of dentistry after she was martyred in 249 AD. At her death, all her teeth were pulled, some of which are now claimed to be in churches throughout the world.
Chapter 11. Dentistry
"For there was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently."
— William Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing, Act V, Scene I
Topics covered in this chapter include:
- The Tooth Worm
- A Patron Saint
- Early Therapy of Dental Disease
- Pull a Tooth, Cure a Patient
- Dentistry Becomes a Profession
- The Amalgam Wars (1840-1850)
- Prosthetics
- Dental Equipment and Furniture
- Personal Dental Hygiene
- The End of an Era